Peter Sagan dismisses Milan-San Remo favourite tag
After top-ten finishes in each of the last three years, Peter Sagan is once again among the favourites for Milan-San Remo

Peter Sagan has played down reports that he’s the favourite for Milan-San Remo on Sunday, but will head to the Italian Classic with a strong Tinkoff-Saxo team behind him.
The Slovak, who won the penultimate stage at Tirreno-Adriatico on Monday, is a perennial contender at La Primavera, finishing in the top ten on the last three occasions, but is yet to win one of cycling’s five Monuments.
Such is Sagan’s power on the bike he is one of the few riders in the peloton who could contend in a bunch sprint, such as with his tenth place last year, or if a smaller group breaks away towards the end, like his second-place finish in 2013.
“I’m heading to Milan-San Remo to deliver a top result just like at any other race,” Sagan told the Tinkoff-Saxo website. “When the team or I start a race, the ultimate goal is to win. But in cycling you never know and you have to be realistic.
“My competitors have the same goals and sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t. But Milan-San Remo is special and I’ll naturally be at the start with big ambitions.”
With changes made to the 293km route, the race looks set for a sprint finish, with reigning champion Alexander Kristoff and 2009 winner Mark Cavendish building their early season around winning the title.
>>> Milan-San Remo 2015: Who will win?
But even though Sagan, 25, finds himself among the favourites once again, he points out that recent history has shown that being the favourite doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be in contention at the end of the epic route.
“It’s difficult to point out a favourite. In the last three years, we haven’t seen the favourites taking the victory and instead it has been outsiders, who crossed the finish line first.
“It’s a special and unpredictable race due to many factors such as the length of the race and the tactical situations. All I can do is to try my best knowing that I’m backed by a strong and motivated team.”
Tinkoff-Saxo squad for Milan-San Remo: Peter Sagan, Matteo Tosatto, Daniele Bennati, Maciej Bodnar, Matti Breschel, Roman Kreuziger, Chris Juul-Jensen, Manuele Boaro
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
EF Education-EasyPost and Israel-Premier Tech to race all-new Maryland Classic in September, one of just 4 UCI races in the US
A truly international field slated to attend America's newest UCI race
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Kristen Faulkner cools down after making a splash at the Giro Donne
The American headed straight for the sea to after winning the stage and taking the Giro Donne overall lead
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar will race at Milan-San Remo despite feeling sick: 'That won’t hold me back on Saturday'
The Slovenian isn't feeling "100 per cent" but doesn't expect this to negatively impact his race
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Caleb Ewan latest rider to withdraw from Milan-San Remo with illness
The Australian has picked up a stomach flu, joining Jasper Stuyven, Julian Alaphilippe and Sonny Colbrelli on the sick bed
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
How to watch Milan-San Remo 2022: Live stream the first Monument of the season
Don’t miss a moment of the action of the Italian Monument
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Former cycling team boss Oleg Tinkov comes out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Former owner of Tinkoff-Saxo says war is "unthinkable and unacceptable"
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Filippo Ganna to be given opportunities at Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix this year
Italian rouleur says he wants to prove he is more than "just" a time triallist and track specialist
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Peter Sagan rescued stranded cycling tourist in Gran Canaria who thought group of pros were a 'bunch of kids'
Along with three other pros, Sagan helped fix a 63-year-old's puncture in Gran Canaria
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Peter Sagan tests positive for Covid for a second time
Three-time world champion and his brother, Juraj, have had their plans disrupted by virus
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Peter Sagan expresses regret at incident with Monaco police: 'I wish to take this opportunity to convey my most sincere apologies'
Sagan was fined €5,000 for resisting arrest and injuring a police officer
By Ryan Dabbs • Published